Hair Sentenced to Up to 10 Years in Prison on Firearms Convictions

A man convicted of illegally possessing and carrying a concealed firearm in Crescent Valley has been sentenced to a combined prison term of 47 to 120 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections. Dale Austin Hair was sentenced Sept. 18 in Eureka County's Seventh Judicial District Court following an April 30 jury verdict finding him guilty of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a Category B felony, and carrying a concealed weapon, a Category C felony. According to an amended criminal information filed April 22, the charges stemmed from an incident on or about Jan. 14, 2026, in Crescent Valley. Prosecutors alleged that Hair, who was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, had a gun on his person and was carrying it concealed without a permit. The court sentenced Hair to 28 to 72 months for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and an additional 19 to 48 months for carrying a concealed weapon. The sentences are to be served consecutively, resulting in a minimum prison term of 47 months and a maximum of 10 years. Prior Convictions Considered The prosecution also sought habitual-criminal sentencing based on Hair's prior felony convictions in Indiana. The amended criminal information identified seven prior convictions dating from 2019 through 2024, including theft, corrupt business influence, attempted theft, resisting law enforcement, carrying a handgun without a license, theft of a firearm, and operating while intoxicated. The convictions were entered in Indiana courts in Whitley and Allen counties. Prosecutors filed two alternative habitual-criminal allegations. One cited seven prior felony convictions and sought sentencing under Nevada's Category A habitual-criminal statute. The other cited five prior convictions under the state's Category B habitual-criminal provisions. At sentencing, the court dismissed the allegation involving seven prior convictions. Although the judge determined that Hair qualified under the allegation involving five prior convictions, the court elected not to enter judgment on that allegation. Hair was therefore sentenced on the two firearms convictions without an additional habitual-criminal sentence. The court also granted Hair credit for 248 days previously served and ordered him to pay a $25 administrative assessment. Eureka County Public Defender Jane Eberhardy represented Hair. Eureka County District Attorney Theodore Beutel represented the state at sentencing. The judgment and sentence were signed Sept. 21 and filed Sept. 22, 2026.